Blog # 1 Books 1-8

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. NY: Penguin. Speak introduces the readers to a young girl who has experienced an unfortunate event, being raped by the “popular guy” in school, during a party in the summer leading to her freshman year. As the story progresses, readers are taken on a journey of the main character, Melinda, as she refuses to speak for almost the entire school year. Many events throughout the school year cause her to become a “selective mute”, from having to deal with her parents who are not around and show a lack of interest as far as her personal life goes, with the loss of her best friend and others due to repercussions of calling the police at the party, which gets her best friend’s brother into trouble. Melinda is dealt with having to heal on her own as she feels she is alone and can’t talk to anyone about what happened that summer night, not even her parents. Her art teacher has given Melinda’s class an assignment as they are to draw a word of an object they have selected. In this case she is to draw a tree, which helps her find peace. She is confronted once again in the same situation with the same individual, but this time she prevails. She over takes Andy and reports the incident. It is at this time in place she feels she is ready to let her parents know she was raped that summer night.The readers of Speak gain a deeper understanding how and what students of late middle school and high school students endure on a day to day basis. Not only do they face with up keeping with those amongst them, but making choices that could change their future. Because of the sexual nature content of this book, it has been challenged and on banned lists in previous years. Laurie Halse Anderson book Shout is similar in context to her book Speak, where she gives a voice and courage to those who feel like they can’t or afraid to speak up.

Behar, R. (2017). Lucky broken girl. NY: Delacorte. Ruthie has emigrated from Cuba to New York during the sixties. Her parent have immigrated to the states to live a better life. Ruthie has finally been approved to become a part of the regular class and has been named the “Hop Scotch Queen of Queens” as she is incredible at hop scotch, until one evening when tragedy hits Ruthie. She has endured a severely broken leg from a car accident coming home from visiting friends of the family.  She has to be put in a full body cast leaving her without mobility to do the things she once could and enjoyed doing. Ruthie becomes angry at times and feels as if she could never forgive the boys who took their parents car without permission and caused the accident. As a year goes by she endures a number of events from losing a friend who fell out of a window by accident, to losing her friend, Ramu, who moves back to his original country of India. She befriends a neighbor who visits her frequently, and has given her the ability to dream of her future, all the while she recollects the meaning of life and accepts the reasons behind forgiveness. As the body cast is removed, then is switched over to a leg cast, then finally is removing the cast entirely, is when she can honestly forgive the boys and appreciates the life she was given. Even though she endured a year without many things such as hopscotch, going to school, eating extra treats, she feel she is lucky to be alive and feels blessed she is able to continue to live. The irony of the title Lucky Broken Girl gives the young adult readers something to contemplate. How even though you may feel broken (not only physically) there are still things we should be grateful for, even if it means we have to dig a little deeper to find out exactly what those things are. Similar books such as Lucky Broken Girl are In the Country of Queens by Cari Best and City of Orphans by Avi.

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY: Harper. Steve Harmon, a promising student who has a future career in film directing finds himself in a middle of a courtroom as he is being tried as an accomplice for a murder he says he did not commit or have involvement in. As the trial begins the prosecutor calls Steve a monster, which he begins to believe and it is when he portrays this time in his life as if he were in a movie. The book is written as a script which gives the reader a better sense of how Steve views the next few months of his life. While going through the trial he is behind bars and must endure jail life as men beat each other up, take things that do not belong to them amongst other things. Steve is not like Mr. Evans who is currently in jail for selling drugs and Mr. King, who are being tried for the murder of the business man. He has loving parents that care about his well-being and hoping and praying he is not found guilty. The question of judging people comes in to play as Steve is acquainted with these individuals. Some people would think Steve is just like these two men. Question of morality comes into play. The following books are similar to Monster, Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.

               Harris, R. (1994). It’s perfectly normal: changing bodies, growing up, sex and sexual health. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press. It’s Perfectly Normal is a nonfiction book that covers all the basics of how our bodies change, the reality of growing up, the differences between the word sex and sexual health. Throughout the book there is a bird and a bee that help with the information throughout the book. It helps readers understand the anatomy of our bodies and provide detail illustrations. They go into detail about the male and women sex organs and what to expect when we go through puberty. We should care for our bodies during this time because we are experiencing different things. They continue and share information on families and babies. They describe the process of giving birth, genetics, and alternatives to getting pregnant such as in vitro. There are many ways to practice safe sex with birth control pills, spermicide, or even a cervical cap. Many diseases can be transmitted such as HIV and AIDS. There are rules and laws when abortion comes into place. Sexual abuse can occur and must know what this looks like and must respect one’s decision and must report any abuse to someone that will listen. Books that are similar by the same author are, It’s So Amazing and It’s Not the Stork. 

             Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.Todd Hewitt is a twelve year old boy who will soon turn 13 years of age and will be considered a man. He lives in the New World where  everyone can hear everyone's thoughts due to a Noise germ that also wiped out all females, or at least that is what is told to the people of Prentisstown. One day Todd along with his dog, Manchee must leave their town of Prentisstown in order as protection against the mayor. As they escape through the swap they discover a girl, Viola. Not long enough some men from Todd's town comes after the girl, the preacher named Aaron, which Todd suspected they would be after her so they run and get away. To their surprise once they think they have left everyone behind Aaron comes back and takes Viola. As an even trade Ben gives himself over to the President of the New World as a peace offering in letting Viola go. This concludes  book one, but other books are to follow, The Ask and the Answer and Monster of Men. Science fiction Fantasy, a subgenre, can engage non readers to read such books as The Knife of Never Letting Go. There is a book out there for everyone. 

                 Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and dunkin. NY: Delacorte. Tim was physically born a boy, but knows he was meant to have been born a girl. She has since renamed herself, Lily. She is finding her true self, in addition to dealing with a father who is having a hard time coming to terms that his son wants to desperately be a girl and a group of boys, “The Neanderthals” (Lily has nicknamed the group) who are constantly bullying Lily because of her decision on wanting to be girl. Lily is wanting to physically change to a girl and deals with sticking up for what she believes no matter the outcome. One day Lily crosses paths with Dunkin, a new kid who has moved from New Jersey and is bipolar. They are both dealing with issues of their own as they try and find a true friendship. Dunkin is not able to come to terms his father has passed away and feels his medication to control his bipolar issues are a waste. Dunkin befriends the “Neanderthals” as he tries to fit in, but sees wrong with the things his “friends” do to Lily. He does not have the courage to speak up and defend Lily, knowing he may lose friends. Lily on the other hand has always had Dunkin’s back. For instance, after failing to take his medication over sometime, Duncan messes things up for the basketball team and causes his team the game. Lily stood by Duncan giving him a thumbs up while everyone else booed and heckled Dunkin. These little snippets of support and kindness prove to Dunkin that even at his lowest points, Lily is always there. One night as Lily is trying to save Bob the tree her grandfather and family spent many times at, is going to be removed, Lily divulges her top secret to Dunkin. This makes Dunkin rethink who his true friends are and those who mean the most to him no matter the circumstances. In the end Lily father shows admiration for her bravery for staying true to herself.  Students like Lily and Dunkin walk the halls of our schools, unnoticed. This book gives them a voice and realization for others around them. There are many challenging issues students are faced with and was the reason for this book. Another book by this author similar to Lily and Dunkin is In Your Shoes.

Garden, N. (2008). Annie on my mind. Retrieved from https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Annie_On_My_Mind?id=AQAAAACLAUkB0M&hl=en_US. Lizzie, an aspiring architect and a senior in high school, falls in love with another girl, Annie, she meets at a museum. At first their relationship starts off as a friendship, but as the story continues they fall in love with one another. They are from two different worlds as Liza attends a prestigious school and Annie attends a public school, but seem to find common ground and compassion for one another. Liza and Annie begin to spend many afternoons and weekends in town, at parks, and at each other’s houses. Eventually they come to terms with the true meaning of their relationship, but keep it a secret from everyone else, until one evening. As a favor to a couple of Liza’s teachers, she agrees to feed their cat as they are away on vacation. When one night Liza and Annie are found out about by another student and administrator. Liza’s fate hangs in limbo as the school board decide whether to kick her out of school or not. During this time she goes through questionable looks and questions of those around her. She is able to stay in school and graduate high school. After leaving for their first year of college, they become estranged for a bit until Annie comes to terms with the love she has for Liza. They agree to meet up on break from school and continue their relationship with one and other. They stay true to their feelings for each other not letting anyone around them break them apart. Students at this age are going through many things in life especially “love”. This book provides young adults the ability to view the struggles one may be faced with such as keeping their relationship a secret or to stick up for what you believe in. As one the first LGBTQ book published in the 80s, was banned by many schools and even burned in Kansas, but has earned the Margaret A. Edwards Award in 2003. Other titles related to Annie on My Mind are Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters and Kissing Kate by Lauren Myracle.